The Art of Sound, Mira Mesa Festival of Beer, Art of Lucha

By now, most people will agree that art can be more than just a pretty painting on a wall. Through creative experimentation, artists continue to push the idea of what art is. One of the newer forms that's emerged from these sorts of interdisciplinary workings is sound art, which thrives on the use of technology and non-musical noises to engage and interact with the public.

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's Downtown branch currently has an exhibition of sound art by local artist Margaret Noble, Margaret Noble: 44th and Landis. But, as they say on latenight infomercials: Wait, there's more!

From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, Space 4 Art (325 15th St. in East Village) will introduce us to 23 sound artists at The Art of Sound San Diego. The space will be filled with visual art depicting reaction to sound, interactive sonic sculptures and installations, performances and listening stations.

Co-organizer Cara Mia Ciasulli says the intent is to "focus on the concept of sound as art" and expose people to interesting and provoking pieces that are "kind of out there."

One of the artists involved is Cooper Baker, a UCSD grad student in computer music, who'll be displaying two installations. One of those is his Giant Meter, a 7-foot-tall sculpture made from salvaged street lights that react to varying levels of sound. A small noise produces shine from a few bulbs while loud noises get the whole thing lit up like a Christmas tree.

"I've had people play drums in front of it. I've had it at parties with DJs, in galleries where people sing to it to make it light up," Baker says.

There's still about two months left before San Diego Beer Week, so we know all you craft-beer nerds are looking for any opportunity to keep the shakes away. CityBeat has you covered with the first-ever Mira Mesa Festival of Beer, the newborn baby brother to our spring beer fest in North Park. All the big favorites will be there with tasters (Green Flash, Karl Strauss, Ballast Point, Stone), plus a lot of fresh faces as well, such as Wet n' Reckless and Rough Draft. Recently feted as San Diego's best blues act at the San Diego Music Awards, Lady Dottie & The Diamonds will headline with the world's best cover band, Geezer, opening. The fest starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Tickets are $25. miramesabeerfest.com

3 The art of wrestling

Dust off your wrestling masks, because there's going to be an all-out fiesta in celebration of the Mexican tradition going down at The Spot (1835 Main St. in Barrio Logan). It's Art of Lucha, and it starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. With luchadores in attendance (!), more than 100 international artists will show works paying homage to the sport, including Lalo Alcaraz, the award-winning cartoonist behind the renowned comic strip, La Cucaracha. Online television host Ruben Torres has curated the art for what's being dubbed the largest Lucha Libre art exhibition in California. Boogie to beats by DJ Beto, check out the Renegade Roller Girls of San Diego in action and mack on TJ-style tacos at this all-ages party. thespotbarriologan.org

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